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Peter Donker Obituary
WORCESTER - Peter P. Donker, 76, a longtime Worcester Telegram & Gazette reporter, died Thursday.
Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, He has lived in the United States since the early 1960's. In the Netherlands he worked for newspapers in the cities of Deventer, Middelburg and the Hague. He worked as a copyboy at the New York Times in New York before moving to Worcester in 1962 to join the staff of the Worcester Telegram. He covered local news, arts and music and business, retiring after 38 years in 2000.
He leaves his wife of 49 years, Elisabeth J. Donker, of Worcester, a son, Coert H. Donker, his wife Dorri and their two children, Dana and Christiaan of the Netherlands, and a daughter, Cornalijn O'Riordan, her husband Paul and their three children, Thomas, Lillian and Daniel of Paxton.
He is also survived by four brothers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada and two sisters, in the Netherlands. He is predeceased by an older brother in South Africa.
He will be lovingly remembered.
There are no calling hours. The family is to hold a private ceremony.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Peter Donker
July 23, 2013
Our deepest sympathies to Elisabeth
and children on Peter's passing. Our family has many fond memories of him and all of his family having been neighbors on Tory Fort Lane for many years.
Walter and Pat White
Greene, ME
David Lamacchia
July 22, 2013
I worked at The Worcester Telegram in the 60's and 70's, so I certainly knew Peter well. He was a gentleman and a hard worker. My deepest condolences to the family of Peter in your loss.
John Doherty
July 18, 2013
I was so sad to hear of Peter's passing. I missed him and our great conversations after his retirement from the T & G.
Nick Kotsopoulos
July 16, 2013
My deepest sympathies to the family; we have all lost a very good person, colleague and friend. Peter was a consummate professional as a reporter and certainly deserved all the respect he received from so many. One would be hard pressed to find a more classy individual. I consider myself lucky to have known and worked with Peter at the T&G for so many years.
John Gearan
July 15, 2013
Peter was ever professional, an elegant man who could cover any news story from business to politics to the arts. He represented our newspaper so very well. Always accurate, always honest, always fair. We newspaper folks were always proud to call him our colleague. Sympathies to his family.
Paul & Martha Gunnerson
July 15, 2013
Elisabeth & Family,
Peter will be greatly missed. He made this city, this community, this neighborhood (Tatnuck) a better place. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time!
Paul & Martha Gunnerson &
The Tatnuck Neighborhood Association
Bill Wallace
July 14, 2013
As he reported our triumphs and tribulations, Peter was a true friend of Worcester's cultural community. Always encouraging us to be better, more creative or more responsive, he rewarded and supported us with his good words. Rest in peace.
fam. Mosterd
July 14, 2013
Gecondoleerd
Maureen Incutto
July 14, 2013
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
July 14, 2013
Rest in peace Peter.
Al Vuona
Anne-M Bakker
July 14, 2013
RIP lieve Oom PP!
Nancy Leyden Cashman
July 13, 2013
"sometimes when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated"
With Love
Chris Sayre DeRidder
July 13, 2013
Elisabeth, you and Peter have been family for so many wonderful years. Peter's passing makes me very sad. Such a lovely, kind man. Det and Russ loved you both........me too.
hugs, Chris
Bill Davis
July 13, 2013
Peter was a good friend when I worked for the T & G and I was part of the wedding party when he married Elizabeth, or Berta as we called her then.He was a wi=onderful man without a mean bone in his body.He will be missed greatly.
Bob Allard
July 13, 2013
This is sad news. Peter was both a wonderful and a very interesting man and I always had great pleasure from my involvement with him; whether it be related to Telegram business or discussions about Chapter Lands in Massachusetts. Elizabeth and family, I'm very sorry for your loss.
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